One school lease extended, one ended early in Natick

Tuesday

Jul 27, 2010 at 12:01 AMJul 27, 2010 at 8:53 PM

Selectmen last night announced the approval of an extension of the lease of the Eliot School to the Eliot Montessori School, and agreed to terminate early the lease of the East School to the Westgate Christian Academy.

Charlie Breitrose/Daily News staff

Selectmen last night announced the approval of an extension of the lease of the Eliot School to the Eliot Montessori School, and agreed to terminate early the lease of the East School to the Westgate Christian Academy.

With the vacancy at the East School, on Oak Street, the town may have the opportunity to use the building as the temporary home to the Kennedy Senior Center while a new center is built on East Central Street.

The move was on the agenda to be discussed by selectmen last night, but the Community/Senior Center Building Committee needs more time to discuss the subject, selectmen Chairman Josh Ostroff said.

Last week, Moira Munns, director of the Council on Aging and Human Services Department, said the move could shorten construction time on the new center and save money.

The school was freed up when Westgate Christian Academy asked to end its lease of the school a year early. Selectmen approved the request in executive session on July 12.

Selectmen agreed to allow the early termination on two conditions, Town Administrator Martha White said: If the school pays the last month's rent by July 31; if the school removes the modular classrooms from the site by July 31.

The school has paid the final rent check, White said, but they are still removing the modular classrooms.

"I have been advised by academy representatives that the units have been completely vacated and they are in the process of disconnecting all utility services," White said. "They have obtained a commitment to remove the modulars, during the first week of August."

White recommended that selectmen extend the deadline for removing the classrooms to Aug. 8 without requiring Westgate to pay rent for that time. The board unanimously approved the extension.

The Eliot School in South Natick has been occupied by the Montessori school for many years, but the town is exploring selling or leasing the site. In a July 12 executive session, selectmen approved a extension of the lease through June 30, 2012.

White said the longer lease will not interfere with plans to sell or lease the building.

"We did consider the report of the Eliot School (Request for Proposal) Committee," White said.

The RFP committee did not expect the fate of the facility to be decided until after the extended lease expires, White said.

Ostroff said he is glad to see that the building will continue to be used to educate children.

(Charlie Breitrose can be reached at 508-626-3964 or cbreitro@cnc.com.)

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